MADISON — Gov. Scott Walker wants the treasurer of his new political committee formed in advance of a likely presidential run to serve on the board that oversees the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics, a move Democrats denounced Tuesday as inappropriate and "odd."

The Wisconsin state Senate Health Committee is scheduled to vote Wednesday on Andrew Hitt's appointment to the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority Board. The board is charged with approving the operating and capital budgets for the 566-bed hospital, making staffing decisions and setting policies for the facility.

Walker formed the tax-exempt Our American Revival, which can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money to help the Republican in his potential 2016 presidential run, on Jan. 16. Hitt serves as treasurer of that group. Three weeks after its formation, on Feb. 5, Walker sent a letter to both Hitt and the state Senate notifying them of Hitt's appointment to the board that runs UW Hospital and Clinics.

"Your experience, knowledge, and dedication will be a true asset to my administration and a great benefit to the people of Wisconsin," Walker told Hitt in the nominating letter.

Sen. Jon Erpenbach, a Democratic member of the committee that will consider the appointment on Wednesday, called it "odd."

"It's a situation where you take a look at what he's known for, and what he's known for is being treasurer for a group that's pushing Scott Walker to be president," Erpenbach said. "What does this board have to do with the governor's presidential campaign? That's how I'm looking at it."

Hitt had no immediate comment Tuesday. But Our American Revival spokeswoman Kirsten Kukowski said in an email that as treasurer, Hitt has "fiduciary responsibilities" with the group "but nothing more."

Walker spokeswoman Laurel Patrick pointed to Hitt's resume — including a bachelor's degree in microbiology and immunology, policy work for the state Department of Health Services, and a previous one-year stint on the hospital board — as evidence that his appointment makes sense.

And the current chairman of the hospital board, longtime Democrat and UW Regent David Walsh, said he wasn't concerned about Hitt's appointment, calling him an "excellent" member when he served from September 2013 until early December.

"All I can say is historically the governor has done a good job of appointing people who have an interest or a constituency that speaks to us," Walsh said. "The wonderful success of our authority is that it hasn't been political and we've focused on delivering quality health care to the state of Wisconsin."

Hitt worked for Walker's administration in various roles for four years before leaving in December to take a job as director of operations for ElderSpan Management, a senior living services company in Madison.

He previously served on the 16-member UW Hospitals board as the representative of the state Department of Administration. Hitt would rejoin the board as one of six appointments the governor gets to make.

Those who serve on the board are not paid. As for the political committee position, Our American Revival does not have to report any information about its expenditures, including how much Hitt is earning, until July.

Hitt's appointment is subject to confirmation by the state Senate. The first step in that process is a Wednesday vote by the Senate's Health Committee. The committee, like the Senate, is controlled by Republicans. The committee chairwoman, Sen. Leah Vukmir, was dealing with a family emergency and not able to comment Tuesday, her spokesman Jason Booth said.